Title:
Socio-economical Aspects of the Straw Removal at the Farmer Level
Author(s):
Marsac, S., Labalette, F., Jacquin, C., Bordet, C., Savouré, M.L., Briand, S.
Document(s):
Paper
Abstract:
By-products such as cereal straw are being introduced into the supply chain of energy plants for CHP (Combined Heat and Power generation) or semi-industrial biofuel plants. Methods have been developed in France to estimate the sustainable and available amount of straw. Farmers’ behaviour can affect the availability of the cereal straw by their willingness to collect and market it. This willingness was studied during the Ecobiom project financed by the French National Research Agency (ANR) and managed by ADEME (French national agency for the environment and the energy).The North-Eastern French region of Champagne-Ardenne was selected to carry out the work in order to take advantage of the experience accumulated during previous projects in close areas (Cartopaille project, Picardy region). The study addressed the social and economical impacts of straw collection at the farmer level and was based on a large survey (8,190 farmers from the Champagne-Ardenne region). 843 questionnaires were returned over 2 months. The survey covered 74000 ha of straw cereal crops of which 57% was grown on cash crop farms. The analysis showed that 59% of the farmers harvest straw, that non harvesters are mainly cash crop farmers. 82% of livestock farmers and 42% of the other categories collect the straw on more than 33% of the cereal crop surfaces. The collected straw was found to be used by the livestock farmers themselves (36%) while the rest is exchanged or sold . Regarding the future, 15% of the respondents claimed that they will never remove the straw . The main issues addressed by the farmers in relation to straw collection were i) the effect on the soil’s organic matter level for 34% of respondents ii) the selling price of straw for 23% of respondents iii) the straw collection time after the harvest of the grain all 9% of respondents. Face to face interviews of the farmers, the straw harvest contractors, the technical consultants and the consultants for the straw industry program confirmed the conclusion of the postal survey indicating that the straw collection exportation rate has to be calculated more accurately, taking into account the local conditions in order to maintain the balance of organic matter in the soil.
Keywords:
biofuels, cereal straw, straw collection, survey, Champagne-Ardenne, Ecobiom
Topic:
Biomass resources
Subtopic:
Environmental and socio-economic aspects for biomass resources
Event:
18th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
OC1.5
Pages:
110 - 115
ISBN-13:
978-88-89407-56-1
ISBN-10:
88-89407-56-5
Paper DOI:
10.5071/18thEUBCE2010-OC1.5
Price:
FREE
